PROVINCIAL OUTLOOK
Manicaland
In Manicaland, 10 human rights violations affecting 143 (74 men and 69 women)people were documented. Notably in
Makoni district, traditional leaders have been illicitly selling food aid intended for vulnerable persons with disabilities
(PWD), denying them critical support. In Chimanimani, a mother and her son were assaulted by the Zimbabwe
Republic Police (ZRP) under accusations of starting a forest fire, highlighting abuses of power. Furthermore, a
Councillor, district ruling party Chairperson, and a war veteran have been intimidating a PWD-led organization that
assists disabled people, wrongly accusing it of political activity and threatening its leader with abduction after he
spoke out against forcing PWDs into unsuitable “food for work” programs. This intimidation, linked to ZANU PF
political interests, undermines the rights of PWDs to organize and receive social support. In other villages, village
residents face extortion, being coerced to pay $1 per household to ruling party-backed groups under threat of
exclusion from agricultural inputs. These violations severely impact the rights to social protection, freedom from
abuse, and access to essential resources, fueling fear and disenfranchisement among vulnerable communities.
Harare
In Harare Province, 16 human rights violations were documented. 220 (105 men and 115 women) people were
affected.. In addition to service delivery related human right violations, other violations include politically motivated
violence and unlawful police conduct. In Chitungwiza, a well-known opposition supporter was wrongfully accused of
attending a political gathering when they had actually participated in a local Workers' Day celebration; this
individual was assaulted by police at night, detained, further beaten in custody, and charged with unlawful conduct.
In Chitungwiza, a former local authority elected official, aligned with the opposition party CCC, faced repeated
abduction attempts by suspected ZANU PF operatives, who arrived in three Fortuner vehicles with multiple
occupants at her home in Zengeza. Despite their efforts on three separate occasions, the victim escaped, but the
intimidation has caused severe distress. The police have not arrested any suspects, and the victim’s family believes
the attackers are linked to the ruling party. These incidents underscore serious violations of the rights to personal
security, freedom from torture and harassment, and political participation.
Conclusion
The human rights violations documented in May 2025 continue to undermine efforts to build sustainable peace and
uphold fundamental rights in Zimbabwe. While the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) recorded a 10% decline in reported
violations compared to April, with victims dropping from 6,059 to 5,376, this modest decrease, though welcome, does not
signal a resolution. Instead, the trend reflects the persistence of violations, many of which remain unreported due to fear,
intimidation, or deliberate concealment. This raises serious concerns about silent suffering in communities and underscores
the urgent need for robust interventions.
ZPP emphasizes that the cases documented represent only those verified; many more likely go unreported as victims shy
away from seeking justice or are unaware of available reporting channels. This reinforces the need for all stakeholders
such as the government and independent commissions, civil society, and community leaders, to intensify engagement and
awareness campaigns. These efforts must empower citizens to understand their rights, access protection mechanisms, and
report violations safely and confidently.
Moreover, the government and political actors must fully uphold their constitutional and international human rights
obligations. This includes guaranteeing the right to free and fearless participation in public life and ending the
politicisation of essential services, particularly access to food aid and social protection, which continues to fuel
discrimination and exclusion.
The ongoing pattern of violations highlights the need for coordinated, urgent action. Strengthening accountability
mechanisms, safeguarding human rights defenders, and demonstrating genuine political will to depoliticise service
delivery are essential to advancing peace, justice, and human rights for all.
Report
Human Rights Violations
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